Mount Pleasant Magazine May/June 2019

www.ChsWomenInBusiness.com | www.ChsWomenInRE.com 10 - WIB D epending upon who you talk to — and how many pints they’ve consumed — beer was first brewed as far back as 7,000 years ago in Mesopotamia, or possibly China, or possibly even in a primitive Europe. But, not in Milwaukee. And, “Laverne and Shirley” notwithstanding, the common perception is that beer brewing has always been a muscular, hairy-chested male profession. That’s wrong, of course. Beer was an offshoot of bread, their common bond being yeast and was one of the domestic arts almost always practiced by … women. That remained true until the Industrial Revolution mechanized the process and burly blokes began to populate the business, hoisting bulky barrels and wrangling balky machinery. This trend continued well into the late 20th century, as mega-brands from Yuengling to Miller and Anheuser-Busch moved to dominate the beer industry. That was the case until 1979, when new federal legislation made home brewing legal for personal and family use. The door was opened to anyone with time, yeast and grain on their hands to brew their own often-exotic lagers, pilsners and ales. Artisanal or “craft” BY BILL FARLEY Prost! A Toast to Women Brewers, Past and Present